Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 24, 1929. H. B. HULL ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SepLZ4, 1929. H, B, u ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1924 '2' Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HA RRY B. HULL AND CLARENCE WARNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed August 25, 1924. Serial No. 733,884.

The present invention relates to refrigerating systems and particularly to that type employing a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, in which system a "alve 1s used for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator.

One of the objects of the present invent on is to increase the efiiciency of refrigerating systems by causing substantially all refriger- 1o ation to take place within the evaporator.

This object is accomplished by preventing liquid refrigerant entering the conduit leading from the evaporator to the compressor.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost and facilitate the manufacture of the valve which controls the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator. In carry ng out this object, a' system is provided which permits the use of a relatively rugged valve while maintaining efficient operation of the system.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown,

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view the improved valve.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the valve.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and i Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of one form of refrigerating system to which the improved valve is applied.

Referring to the drawings, a refrigerant compressor is shown driven by a motor 21 through belt=and-pulley connections 22, 23 and 24. Low pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 20 through a pipe 25 and excellent at a relatively higher pressure through a pipe 26. The compressed refrigerant passes from pipe 26 to a condenser 27 where it is cooled and liquefied. The liquid refrigerant then passes through a pipe 28 into an evaporator 29 located within a cooling chamber'30. The refrigerant in a gaseous stage passes from the evaporator 29 to the compressor 20 through pipe 25.

The flow of refrigerant from the pipe 28 to the evaporator is controlled by the improved valve A tube 36 containing a volatile liquid is associated with the outlet end 37 of the evaporator, 29 and is connected with the valve by a pipe 38.

The circuit for the motor 21 includes conductors 40 and 41. An automatic switch 42, comprising contacts 43 and 44 in the conductor 40. controls the starting and stopping of the motor 21. The switch 42 also includes a metal bellows 45 which expands or contracts and by so doing actuates the contacts. The bellows 45 is shown connected by a pipe 46 with a tube 47 The tube 47, pipe 46 and bellows 45 contain a volatile liquid responsive to the temperature of the evaporator or ggherwise controlled for actuating the switch The valve 35 includes a main body 50 having a hollow boss 51 to which the evaporator 29 is connected. Body 50is also provided with aligned inwardly projecting boss 52 and outwardly projecting boss 53. The bosses 52 and 53 are provided with a drilled opening 54 which terminates short of the end of boss 52. The pipe 28 is connected by a suitable coupling with the boss An orifice 55 is provided in the side of the boss 52 and connects with the opening 54 to provide a passage for refrigerant from the pipe 28 to the interior of the body 50 whence the refrigerant passes to the evaporator 29 through the hollow boss 51. One of the side walls of the body 50 is a diaphragm 57 which is hermetically sealed to the body 50 as at 58. The central portion of the diaphragm 57 is clamped between a plate 59 and the end 60 of a yoke member 61 by a stem 62. The end 60 is hermetically sealed to the diaphragm 57 as at 63 to prevent the escape of refrigerant around the stem 62. Yoke member 61 straddles the boss 52 and the projecting end 65 of said boss is threaded to receive a screw-threaded needle valve 66 which controls the exit of the orifice 55. Valve 66 is provided with a head 67 for adjusting the valve with respect to the orifice 55. The

end 65 of yoke member 61 is provided with a tapered opening adapted to receive a tapered and split lock nut 68 which locks the valve 66 in adjusted position. The end 70 of body 50 is provided with a screw-threaded opening adapted to receive the plug 71 and through which opening access may be had to the head 67 of valve 66 and to the lock nut 68 whereby the valvemay be adjusted without dismantling the device.

When the pressure within the body 50 falls below a predetermined value, atmospheric pressure on the outside of the body will force diaphragm 57 inwardly which in turn will move the yoke member 61 and likewise valve 66. When the valve 66 is moved in this direction it will open the end of orifice 55 to permit refrigerant to enter into the body 50. After a certain amount of refrigerant enters the body, the pressure will rise sufficient to move the diaphragm in the opposite direction to close orifice 55.

Valve also includes a body 75 having an opening 76 a which pipe 38 is connected. One of the walls of the body 75 is a diaphragm 77 hermetically sealed in position as at 78. A plate 79 is sealed to the diaphragm as at 80. Plate 79 includes an inwardly projecting hollow boss 81 which is internally screw-threaded to receive screw-threaded member 82 having a squared end 83.

The bodies 50 and 75 are arranged so that I the diaphragms 57 and 77 are located parallel and concentric with one another. The stem 62 extends through the member 82 and is provided with a head 84 extending into the boss 81 and adapted to be engaged by the member 82 when said member is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. v

Two adjusting rings 85 and 86 and a spacing ring 87 are interposed between the bodies 50 and-7 5 and arranged concentric with respect to stem 62. Ring 85 is provided with spokes 88 and a hub 89 having an internally squared portion 90 adapted to receive squared portion 83 of member 82. Hub 89 also includes an internally screw-threaded portion 91 for receiving a cap 92 having an externally squared end 93. A spring 94 is interposed between the end of cap 92 and member 82 for pilacing the diaphragm 77 under tension.

ing 86 includes spokes 95 and an internally squared hub 96 for receiving end 93 of cap 92.

The bodies 50 and7 5, rings 85, 86 and 87 are held in their respective positions by screws 97 which pass through bodies 50 and 75, and rin 87. When the screws 97 are loosened, the I1I1g 85 can be rotated for moving member 82 closer or farther from the head 84.

By holding ring 85 in position and moving ring 86 the cap 92 can be moved to increase or decrease the tension of the spring 94. Rings 85 and 86 are provided with ears 98 by which the rings can be gripped or moved. These a hollow.

screws 97 are tightened the rings cannot bemoved. 1

Thus three chambers have been formed, namely, that provided by the body 50, that by body 75, and that provided by bodies 50 and in conjunction with the rings 85, 87 and 86. These elements form a unitary structure in which the parts thereof are adjustable from the exterior of the valve.

The flow of refrigerant may be controlled wholly by the diaphragm 57. However, due to extraneous conditions or due to the fact that the needle valve permits too much refrigerant to enter the evaporator, the outlet end 37 of evaporator will be flooded with liquid and the temperature at the out-let end will fall abnormally low. When this occurs, the pressure of the fluid within the tube 36, pipe 38 and body 75 will decrease, and the spring 94 will force the diaphragm to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. Member 82 will then engage head 84 of stem 62 and move same to the left. This movement will also cause the valve 66 to close the orifice 55 to shut ofi the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator 29. The spring 94 is adjusted so that the needle valve will close before liquid refrigerant enters tne pipe 25 and, therefore, substantially all refrigeration will take place in the chamber 30. By preventing liquid refrigerant from entering the pipe 25, condensation of water on said pipe is minimized.

The needle valve 66 can be adjusted so that the flow of refrigerant from the pipe 28 to the evaporator 29 is slightly excessive whereby the evaporator is substantially flooded which in eflect increases the efficiency of the system. I

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

, What is claimed is as follows:

1. In refrigerating apparatus including a closed circuit for refrigerant, in combination, a container for liquid refrigerant, an evaporator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evaporator, means for opening and closing the valve in response to the pressure within the evaporator, and means independent of said opening and closing means and responsive to a low temperature of the refrigerant for positively closing the valve.

2. In refrigerating apparatus including a closed circuit for refrigerant, in combination, a container for liquid refrigerant, an evaporator having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evaporator, means for opening and closing the valve in mined point.

evaporator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evaporator, means for opening and closing- .tlie'valve in response to the pressure within the evaporator, and means responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant for closing the valve when the temperature is below a predetermined point, said last-mentioned means being inoperative to affect the valve valve in response to the pressure within the evaporator, and means independent of the opening and closing means for positively closing the valve including a spring for closing the valve, an expansible chamber having a movable wall adapted.- to oppose the spring, and a container for expansible fluid connected to said expansiblechamber and disposed in intimate thermal association with the outlet of the evaporator.

In testimony whereof we hereto aflix our signatures. p

1 HARRY B. HULL.

CLARENCE WARNER.

when thetemperature is above a predeter-' 4. In refrigerating apparatus including a closed circuit for refrigerant 1n combination, a container for liquid refrigerant, an

evaporator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evaporator, means for opening and closing the valve in response to the pressure within the evaporator, means for positively closing the valve, and means for restraining the closclosed circuit for re ing means when v the temperature of the evaporator is above a predetermined point. 5.- In refrigeratin apparatus including a "gerant in combination, a container" forliquid refrigerant, anevaporator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerantfrom" the container to the evaporater, means for opening and closing the valve in response to? the pressure within the evaporator, and means independent of the opening and closing; means for positively closing the'valve including a spring for closing the valve,,a n expan'sible chamber having a movable wall adapted to oppose the spring, and means for exerting a pressure in the expansible chamber responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant.

- 6. In a-refrigerating apparatus including a closedcirouit for refrigerant in combina tion, a container for liquid refrigerant, an evaporator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evaporator, means for opening and closing the valve in response to the pressure within the evaporatorgand means independent. of

the opening and closing means for positively closing the Valve including aspring for closin}; the valve. an expansible chamber having a movable wall adapted to oppose the spring,

and a lost motion connection between the spring and the valve.

7 In refrigerating apparatus ineluding closed circuit for refrigerant in combination,

a container for liquid refrigerant, an evapo-- rator, a valve for controlling the passage of refrigerant from the container to the evapo rater, means for opening and closing the 

